Hello hello hello. Here's the next chapter for you all. I hope you enjoy it, I had a lot of fun with this chapter. Hopefully you all are in the mood for some sweet Dawsey, cause there's quite a bit of it in this one.

Also, as I always do, I want to let you know there is an M-Rated scene in this one. It's been requested that I keep those going, so I hope you enjoy.

TWENTY FOUR

An involuntary shiver coursed through Gabby's body as she was slowly pulled from her peaceful slumber, the paramedic quickly searching for the body of the person who she fell asleep next to, wanting his warmth to lull her back to sleep. But, to her disappointment, she found nothing but an empty bed next to her when she reached out for him, Gabby frowning as she slowly opened her eyes.

She first registered the empty bed next to her before she heard the sound of the shower running in his bathroom, Gabby needing a few moments to adjust to the light surrounding her before she gained complete control of her senses, Dawson sitting up slowly. Her hand came out to rest against the cold mattress, Gabby leaning her weight into her arm as she glanced at the clock, seeing it was a little before noon.

A soft yawn escaped her lips as she stretched out her neck, Gabby hearing the water abruptly shut off, telling her Matt was done with his shower. As she sat and listened to him moving around in the bathroom, she realized that for the first time in a few nights, she actually felt well rested. In the few hours she spent sleeping next to Matt, she felt more refreshed than she had after some of the entire nights of sleep she'd gotten recently.

Movement across the room got her attention, Gabby seeing Matt leave the bathroom, his body covered only by the towel tied around his waist, his eyes finding hers quickly as a bright smile fell onto his face. "Hey there."

"Hi." She responded, another yawn escaping her lips.

"How'd you sleep?" He questioned while he moved towards the dresser.

"Really good." She answered, missing the way his smile grew as his back was turned to her, Matt meeting her eyes through the mirror. "Thank you, by the way." She spoke, confusion filling his features.

"For what?"

"For letting me sleep, for helping me sleep, I guess." She responded with a shrug, Matt's face falling slightly.

"You never need to thank me for that." He replied without hesitation, Gabby watching as he began shuffling through his dresser, in search of clothes to wear.

She kept her eyes on him while he got dressed, Gabby waiting for the moment he tried to talk to her. She was waiting for him to try and get her to talk, for him to want her to tell him what had her so upset, but he never did. Anytime he caught her gaze, he simply flashed her a smile before going back to what he was doing.

Gabby wasn't sure why he hadn't asked her. She knew he had to be curious, that he knew what happened with Walker at the bar and he was bound to have some questions. But whatever questions he did have, he never asked them. He was acting like everything was fine, that she hadn't shown up at his door a few hours ago looking like a broken mess. It was like everything was normal, and she couldn't help but feel thankful for that.

Somehow he'd managed to show her that he was here for her, without him forcing her to open up about it. She knew if she wanted to talk, he was there to listen, but he hadn't uttered a single word about it. He was just… here. And it filled her with a sense of comfort she couldn't quite understand.

He was able to comfort her in ways she couldn't understand.

"I'm not sure how long I'll be gone." His voice broke her from her trance, Gabby's vision snapping into focus as she saw him fixing his belt, his eyes meeting hers for a second before he moved back to the task at hand. "But what do you say about us ordering in tonight?" He questioned, reaching down for the t-shirt he'd placed on the edge of the bed, sliding it over his bare torso. "We can get that Italian food you love." He offered, his smile widening when he saw one appear on her lips.

"I thought you hated that place." She replied, cocking her head to the side. "If my memory serves me correctly, every time we get it, you complain about how the food is not that good and it's 'too expensive for what we're getting'." She mocked, Casey narrowing his eyes playfully.

"Well, both of those things are true." He countered with a grin. "But I know how much you like it, I figured it would be a nice dinner." He replied softly, Gabby giving him a slow nod.

"Okay, yeah. I'd like that… If you're sure you don't mind."

"I just told you I didn't care-"

"No, not that." She spoke, Matt waiting for her to elaborate. "I meant if you're sure you don't mind me hanging around here all day.. I know I just kind of showed up-"

"I like having you here." He cut in, Gabby meeting his eyes. "It doesn't matter whether it's unannounced or not, you're always welcome." Casey thought about adding a joke about how he didn't think he needed to tell her that, to try and lighten the mood, but after she showed up here clearly upset, he wanted to make sure she knew he was serious. She was obviously going through something, and he didn't want there to be any confusion on her part, or have her second guessing whether or not she could come to him. She could always come to him, he didn't want her doubting that.

"Okay. Well then I think that sounds like a great plan." She told him, Matt smiling as he sat down on the edge of the bed, putting his shoes on.

"I'll text you when I'm done, I don't think it'll take all afternoon, but I'm not sure. If it gets too late, I might just pick up the food on the way home." He told her, Gabby giving him a nod as he stood up, turning his body to face her.

"Sounds good." She replied, Matt stepping towards her, Gabby watching him closely. Without another word, he leaned down, resting his hand against the mattress as he captured her lips with his, the action taking her by surprise.

It was soft, and gentle, Gabby melting into him as she began kissing him back, Matt bringing his other hand up to cradle her cheek.

When they eventually pulled away, Gabby's bottom lip fell between her teeth, Matt smiling softly as he watched her. "I'll see you later." He murmured, brushing a soft kiss over her cheek, his hand stroking the other side of her face before he pulled back, straightening his spine as he stood up.

The tenderness of his movements caught her off guard, Gabby nodding softly, watching as he grabbed his phone before heading for the door.

"See you later." She repeated, Casey flashing her smile before heading out the bedroom door. "And Matt?" She called, seeing him reappear seconds later, poking his head in through the doorway.

"Yeah?"

His eyebrows were raised as he waited for her to say something, Matt watching her curiously as she climbed out of bed, his t-shirt hanging over her hips as she silently walked towards him. He angled his body towards her just in time for her to wrap her arms around his neck, holding herself against him in a tight hug.

"Thank you." She murmured against his neck, Casey's body relaxing into her hold as he wrapped his arms around her body.

"I told you already, you don't need to thank me." He spoke softly, feeling her turn her head towards his neck, Matt running his hands over her back before he settled on her hips.

"Yeah, but I do." She responded, Matt sighing before pressing a kiss to the side of her head.

"I'm here for you, with whatever you need Gabby." He vocalized the thing he'd been trying to convey to her, not even just today, but for the last few months.

"I know you are." She murmured, pressing a kiss to his neck before reluctantly pulling away from him, Matt keeping his hands on her hips. "But you can't be right now, because you need to get to work." Her voice turned light, Matt releasing a soft chuckle as he nodded.

"You're right. Someone's gotta pay for that Italian food you want." He teased, rubbing his palm over her side as she grinned, Matt leaning forward, kissing the smirk off her lips. "So I'll see you later?" He questioned again after a few seconds, Gabby nodding.

"Yeah." She replied, Matt smiling before kissing her again, holding her hips against his as her hands came to rest on his chest. The shirt covering her body bunched up in his grip, rising above her hips as he held her to him, Gabby moaning softly against his lips.

"I need to go." He spoke softly, Gabby smiling against him before he kissed her again, a low groan leaving the back of his throat as his hand slid down past her waist, roaming the newly exposed skin.

Both panting, they pulled back from one another, Matt sucking in deep breaths as Gabby tapped her palm against his chest.

"What was that for?" Gabby breathed out, Matt matching her smile with a sheepish grin.

"Giving you something to look forward to, I guess." He responded, Gabby chuckling softly as she rubbed over his chest, gently pushing him out the door.

"Get out of here before I drag you back into bed." She spoke, Matt's eyebrows raising as he moved down the hallway, Gabby watching him from the doorway.

"Oh, so is that something that I have to look forward to?" He asked, Gabby crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned against the door frame.

"Maybe. If you're lucky."

Casey grinned, giving her a wink before continuing down the hallway, gathering the rest of his belongings before leaving the apartment, the firefighter glad to see Dawson in better spirits than she'd been in when she got here.

Gabby took a long sip of the tea she'd made for herself as she walked back into the living room, placing the steaming mug down on the coffee table before taking up her previous position on the couch, going back to her task of folding laundry.

It had been a lazy afternoon around Casey's apartment for the paramedic, Gabby having taken it easy for the most part. After Casey had left for his construction job, Gabby had gotten back into bed for a little while longer before deciding to take a bath. When she finished, she decided to make herself comfortable, returning to her previous outfit as she grabbed a clean t-shirt of Matt's and a pair of her underwear that still remained in his dresser.

Since being here during his recovery, she'd ended up with quite a bit of her things that had just stayed at his place, and her clothes had become one of them. Somehow, she'd ended up with over half a dresser drawer full of clothes, Matt having pushed aside some of his things to give her room. It wasn't something they really talked about, it was more of a silent decision that she'd just keep some of her clothes at his place, considering she was here a lot of the time anyway. And, in times like this, it had proven to come in handy.

Once she'd gotten dressed after her shower, Gabby decided to clean up a little bit around the apartment. She'd made his bed, finished up cleaning some dishes that had been left in the sink, and had decided to do his laundry, which, admittedly, had some of her things tangled in as well.

She had started with their shift clothes, and once those were done she'd washed the rest of their stuff, Gabby now sitting on the couch folding them while she half watched a movie playing in the background.

It was nice to have a quiet afternoon to herself, especially after how hard the last few days had been. But as she sat here folding their clothes, she couldn't help but wish Casey was here sitting beside her, both of them doing this together. She found herself missing his presence, more than she expected, and as welcome as this relaxing afternoon was, she knew it would be better once he got back home.

Although, from the message he'd sent her a little under half an hour ago, Gabby knew it would be awhile until he got back, Matt having texted her saying the job was more intensive than he expected, and that it would probably be closer to dinner time before he'd be home.

She had just finished folding a pair of his sweatpants when she heard a knock at the door, Gabby placing the clothing down in one of the piles she'd created on the couch before glancing towards the sound, unsure of what to do.

She didn't know who'd be coming by this afternoon, but considering this was Matt's apartment, unless it was Shay, no one would be expecting her to open the door. Deciding to just leave it alone, Gabby stayed seated, hoping whoever had come here looking for Matt would assume he wasn't home. But instead, they knocked again, this time more persistent. Blowing out a soft sigh, Gabby stood up, intent on heading towards the door before she realized her current choice of dress, or lack thereof. Moving quickly, she grabbed the throw blanket off the back of his couch, wrapping it around herself before walking towards the door, Gabby making sure her lower half was covered.

The person knocked again as Gabby got into the entryway, Dawson huffing out a frustrated breath while she flipped the lock, not even bothering to look before quickly opening the door.

The person on the other side of the door was as surprised as Gabby was when they caught sight of one another, Gabby suddenly feeling self conscious under the gaze of the woman standing a few feet from her.

"Oh, hi Nancy. I wasn't expecting you today." Gabby spoke softly, clutching the blanket in her grip, watching as Matt's mother took in her choice of attire.

"Hi… Gabby, right?" She questioned, Dawson nodding. "I wanted to stop by and see Matthew, were you two asleep?" She asked with a raised brow, Gabby swallowing the lump in her throat as she shook her head.

"No, Matt's not here. He's at work. I was just getting some laundry done." She explained, Nancy nodding as she looked past Gabby into the apartment. "Um, would you like to come in?" Gabby offered, unsure of what else to do, the paramedic surprised when the woman actually took her up on her offer.

"Sure, thank you." She replied, Gabby stepping aside as Nancy walked in past her, Dawson closing the door behind her, drawing in a deep breath.

The two moved into the living room, Nancy seeing the stacks of folded clothes sitting on the couch, the older woman glancing back towards Gabby. "I'm going to go change real quick, I'll be right back. Make yourself comfortable." Gabby spoke, Nancy giving her a soft nod before Gabby disappeared down the hallway, making her way into Matt's room.

Closing the door behind her, Gabby discarded the blanket onto the bed before moving towards the dresser, pulling out some of her own clothes. She quickly slid on her jeans, peeling Matt's shirt from her body before putting on her bra and clasping it into place, slipping into a comfy shirt of her own. While she got dressed, Gabby tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling in her gut, knowing she'd soon have to make small talk with Matt's mother. The woman seemed nice enough, but Gabby had no idea what type of relationship this woman had with her son, and she didn't want to reveal too much about Matt's life to her. She also didn't want his mom to dislike her, and she wasn't exactly sure where she stood with her right now.

Walking into the bathroom, Gabby quickly ran a brush through her hair, pulling it back into a messy bun before leaving the room, not wanting to leave Matt's mom waiting for much longer.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Gabby asked as she came down the hallway, seeing Nancy standing in the living room, glancing around the room. "I just made myself some tea, if you'd like some,"

"That'd be great."

Gabby nodded, flashing her a soft smile before moving towards the kitchen, Dawson beginning to heat up some water.

"Nancy, do you have a preference for what type of tea?" Gabby called as she stood at the stove.

"I'm right here."

Gabby jumped slightly, not having heard her enter the room, Gabby's hand coming up to rest across her chest as she turned around, Nancy wearing a soft frown.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, dear." She spoke, Gabby waving her off, taking a deep breath before responding.

"No, you're fine. I was just lost in own head, I guess." Gabby responded, flashing her a weak smile before turning back towards the stove, embarrassment flooding her body at how she'd just reacted in front of Matt's mother. "Um, I'm not sure what type of tea you like, Matt has a few different kinds." She spoke, Nancy coming up to stand beside her, choosing the type she liked.

"So, you said Matt was at work?" She asked, Gabby nodding as she pulled out a clean mug, setting it down on the counter.

"He is."

"But I thought you two worked together?"

"We do. We got off shift at the firehouse this morning, he's at a construction job right now." Gabby clarified, Nancy nodding.

"Ah yes, I'm glad to hear he's still doing that." She commented, Gabby nodding with a soft smile as they waited for the water to be ready. Once it was, Gabby filled up her mug, handing it to the woman before turning off the stovetop, the two walking back out into the living room.

While Nancy got situated in the chair, Gabby put the small piles of laundry back in Matt's hamper, knowing she could put them away later. Once she finished, she settled down into the couch, grabbing her tea and focusing her attention on the woman sitting across from her.

"Do you know how much longer Matthew will be working?" She questioned after a few silent moments, Gabby swallowing a sip of her drink before responding.

"It'll probably be a few more hours, he said he had more to do than he thought."

"What's he working on?"

"He's replacing a deck, I think." Gabby replied, Nancy nodding slowly before taking another sip of her tea, Gabby feeling the uncomfortable air settling around them.

"So… how long have you and Matt been living together?"

Gabby nearly choked on the liquid in her mouth, the paramedic clearing her throat as Nancy eyed her curiously.

"Sorry." Gabby spoke, shaking her head before answering her question. "We don't live together… I mean, I'm here a lot, but I don't live here. This is just Matt's place." She answered, Nancy nodding in understanding.

"And have you two been together long?"

"Um, a few months." Gabby answered, averting her eyes to her lap. Sensing the woman's uneasiness, Nancy placed her mug down on the coffee table, the action catching Gabby's attention.

"Gabby, you don't need to be nervous around me." Nancy spoke softly, the paramedic opening her mouth to protest, but she was cut off. "I can tell you're a little apprehensive of me being here, and I get it. I'm not sure how much Matthew has told you about me, but my son and I have a complicated history."

"He hasn't said much." Gabby replied softly, Nancy giving her a tight lipped smile before continuing.

"I know I came here to talk to him, but I'd also like to get to know you. You're obviously important to my son, and even though I don't know much about what's going on in Matthew's life these days, I'm not gonna try and figure that out through you. I wouldn't put you in that position. But I'd like to get to know you a little better, if that's alright."

Gabby nodded slowly, not expecting this woman to be able to read her so easily. A part of her assumed maybe it was something in the Casey genes, knowing Matt had been able to see through her essentially from the moment they met. Or maybe she was just incredibly transparent at times. Whatever it was, she didn't dwell on it.

Once she got confirmation from her son's girlfriend, Nancy relaxed back into her chair, resting her hands in her lap. "So, Gabby, have you always lived in Chicago?"

"I have, yeah. My parents are from the Dominican Republic, but they moved here before I was born with my brother."

"You have a brother?"

"An older brother, yeah. Antonio. He's a detective over at the 21st district."

"And you're a paramedic, yes? That's what Matthew said."

"Mhmm. I am." Gabby confirmed, a soft smile falling onto Nancy's face. "I have been for almost nine years, and I've been a PIC for five."

"PIC?"

"Paramedic in Charge." Gabby clarified. "Basically, I run my ambulance. It's kind of like Matt being a Lieutenant, how he's in charge of everyone on his truck. I mean, I'm only in charge of one other person, my partner Shay, so it's not exactly the same thing…"

"But still, that's impressive." Nancy spoke, her sincere words bringing a soft smile to Gabby's face. "And I'm sure your parents are proud, of both you and your brother. You both are in very noble professions."

"I hope they are." Gabby shrugged, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Do you have any other family in the area?" She questioned, Gabby shaking her head.

"There's a few of us kind of close by, but we're mostly spread all over the place. It's really just my parents and my brother, and then the firehouse where Matt and I work, we're essentially a family." Gabby spoke, Nancy smiling softly.

"That's nice to hear, I'm glad Matthew has that." She murmured, Dawson slowly nodding, unsure of what to say. But thankfully, Nancy kept talking. "That's how you two met, right? Through work?"

Gabby's tongue ran over her bottom lip, trying to figure out how to answer her. "We met briefly before that, but we didn't really get to know each other until he came to 51."

"51?"

"Oh, sorry. Firehouse 51, it's where we work." She clarified.

"And Matthew's fitting in there well?"

Gabby gave her another nod, pushing back the dozens of questions flooding her mind about Matt's relationship with his mother. "He is, everyone there loves him. He fit in well from the start, he's been a good addition to the house."

"Good, that's good. I'm glad he has that… I'm glad he has you." Gabby tilted her head to the side, not entirely sure what she meant. "I know I haven't been in my son's life a lot recently, and everything with Hallie- I don't know what happened there." Dawson swallowed thickly, Nancy clearing her throat. "And, while I'm sure you do, I'm not asking you to tell me, I meant what I said, I'm not trying to use you to get to Matthew, I'm just glad he has someone in his life who cares about him… I know how much he loved Hallie, and for that marriage to fail, I know that had to have destroyed him, no matter the reason. But he seems to be doing well, and I can only assume that's because of you."

"I don't think I've done anything." Gabby responded, Nancy's eyes locking with Gabby's. "Everything with Hallie, that had happened months before I met him… I really don't think I've done much, he got through it on his own."

"Well, maybe that's true. Although I have a feeling Matthew wouldn't say the same thing." Nancy commented with a soft smile, Gabby running her teeth over her bottom lip. "But, regardless, I'm just glad to see he has someone who cares about him. He needs that."

"He makes it easy." Gabby replied before she could stop herself, seeing Nancy's smile widen. "Your son is an amazing man."

"Yes, he is." Nancy agreed, the woman rubbing her hands over her legs before standing up. The action took Gabby by surprised, Dawson slowly standing up as well. "Well, I've taken up more than enough of your time, I'll get out of your hair."

"Oh no, you're fine. You don't have to leave."

"That's okay dear, I know I interrupted a relaxing day for you." She responded with a smile. "But it was really nice to get to know more about you, I'm glad you were here."

"Me too." Gabby replied, Nancy moving towards the door, Gabby following her path.

"If you could let Matthew know I stopped by, I'd appreciate it."

"Of course, yeah." She spoke, Nancy giving her another smile as she opened the front door.

"It was nice to see you again, Gabby."

"You too."

Dawson stood in the doorway while Nancy walked down the sidewalk, Gabby watching as she headed for a car parked across the street, someone clearly waiting on Matt's mom while she was here. With her curiosity getting the better of her, Gabby continued looking as Nancy got closer, Dawson seeing the driver's side window roll down, the paramedic catching a glimpse of an older man. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but Gabby saw Nancy tense up when she realized Dawson was still watching her, the older woman giving her a wave before heading for the passenger side door.

Gabby went back into the apartment, closing and locking the door behind her before heading for Matt's bedroom, intent on getting back in her comfy clothes. As she changed back into one of his shirts, she couldn't help but wonder who that man with Casey's mother was, and why he hadn't come in with her. He looked like he could be his father, the age seemed about right, but if that was the case, Gabby wasn't sure why he wouldn't have just come up with Nancy.

She definitely had a lot of questions, but she wasn't sure if it was her place to ask any of them. She, more than anyone, knew what it was like to have things you just couldn't talk about, and if the last time the topic of his family came up was any indication, that wasn't something he really wanted to discuss. And the last thing she would ever do was pressure him to talk about it.

Matt held the bag of food in one hand as he used his other to unlock his front door, Casey soon stepping inside his warm apartment, letting the door close behind him before locking it into place. Kicking his shoes off and ditching his keys by the front door, Matt stepped further inside, a soft smile forming over his face when he saw Gabby curled up on the couch. She was cuddled underneath the blanket, the material pulled up to under her chin, Matt seeing she was sound asleep as he got closer.

Drawing in a deep breath, Matt took their food into the kitchen, placing the bag down on the table before returning to the living room, glancing over to see some credits scrolling on the TV. Walking back towards the couch, Casey couldn't help the amused smile that rose to his face when he saw Gabby had done his laundry. He wasn't sure how she would've chosen to keep herself occupied while he was working, but her doing laundry wasn't exactly what he expected.

Sitting down on the coffee table, Matt placed his hand over her arm, gently rubbing her over the blanket.

"Gabby." He murmured, seeing her dig herself deeper into the couch, clearly trying to stay asleep.

Casey was a little surprised to see her this sound asleep, it wasn't that late, and, as far as he knew, she hadn't done much of anything today. But he also knew the last few days had been hard on her, harder than she would probably ever admit, and he knew she could use all the rest she could get. He didn't necessarily want to wake her up, but he wanted to make sure she ate. And he knew he'd face her wrath later if he let her sleep through food from one of her favorite places.

"Gabby." He raised his voice slightly, increasing the pressure he used to rub her arm, Matt seeing her begin to stir.

Out of nowhere, Gabby awoke with a start, Matt moving back as her body shot up, his eyebrows furrowing when he caught the look of panic that flashed in her eyes. Unsure of what was going on, Matt didn't touch her, not wanting to startle her anymore than she already was as she looked around the room. He saw the exact moment she remembered where she was, her face softening as she locked eyes with him.

"You okay?" He asked cautiously, still not entirely sure what just happened.

Slowly, she nodded, Gabby blinking tightly, running her hand over the side of her face before looking back towards Matt, seeing his concerned eyes locked on her. "I'm fine… sorry."

"It's alright, no need to be sorry." He replied, resting his hand over her covered leg, glad to see her respond with a soft smile, Gabby resting her hand over his. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"No, you didn't. I was just dreaming, I guess… I wasn't expecting to be woken up, but I'm okay." She told him, Matt nodding slowly, watching as she stretched her arms out above her head. "What time is it?"

"Almost seven."

"Did you just get home?" She questioned, Matt nodding as she took in his appearance, Gabby finally awake enough to notice his tired eyes.

"Yeah, it was a long day. But I brought food." Gabby's eyes lit up at the mention of dinner, Matt chuckling as he stood up. "We can eat in here, any drink preference?"

"Water's fine."

With a nod, Matt headed for the kitchen, Gabby adjusting her position on the couch. She pushed the blanket to the edge of the couch, giving Matt room to sit beside her, Gabby shivering involuntarily as the air hit her bare legs. Trying not to focus on the dream she'd abruptly been pulled out of, Gabby re-did her hair, pulling it back again. While she was glad Matt had woken her up, her unconscious thoughts not exactly pleasant, she hated how she'd reacted to him when he did. She felt that all too familiar embarrassment, the same she experienced when she got startled by his mother earlier today, and she hated the feeling.

"Alright, I got you your favorite." He spoke up, Gabby looking over to see him walking towards her, drinks and food in hand. "And I even got some of that cheesy bread, considering you ate almost all of it last time." He teased, Gabby rolling her eyes as she brought one leg up onto the couch, hooking it under her knee.

"Well, it was good." She muttered in defense.

Matt sat down beside her, placing the bag of food down before beginning to pull it out, handing Gabby hers.

"Thank you." She responded, Matt giving her a nod as he got the rest of the food set out, the two beginning to eat in a calm quiet.

Casey could tell there was a lot of her mind as they ate their dinner, he could practically hear her thoughts running laps in her head, but he didn't want to push her. Especially after what just happened when he woke her up, how she looked visibly frightened by his presence, there was clearly more going on with her than he knew about. And he didn't want to make it worse.

"Did you finish your job?" She spoke up after a few minutes, Matt glancing to her, Gabby chuckling when she saw his cheeks puffed up, almost like a chipmunk, from the amount of food in his mouth. "Why don't you take smaller bites?" She questioned with a laugh, bringing her napkin up to his mouth, wiping away the sauce he'd gotten on himself.

"I'm starving." He responded after swallowing his food, taking a sip of his beer. "And no, I didn't. I'm gonna head back over there tomorrow morning, I should be able to finish up then." He answered, Gabby nodding in response.

"What about you? You do anything fun today? Besides my laundry?" He asked teasingly, Gabby scoffing lightly.

"Hey, I thought I was being nice."

"It was very nice, I appreciate it. I just wasn't expecting it."

"Well, I was kind of bored. And also I had some clothes here, too. Figured it couldn't hurt." She spoke, Matt nodding as he took another bite of his food. "And I kind of just lounged around. I took a bath, took a nap… but uh, there was something." She told him, clearing her throat.

"What?"

"Your mom stopped by."

Matt sighed deeply, thoughtfully chewing the rest of his food before responding.

"What did she want?"

"I'm not sure, she said she just came to talk to you, but I told her you weren't here." She explained, Matt nodding slowly before going back to his meal. She waited to see if he was going to ask her any more questions, but when a few moments passed and he hadn't said anything, she spoke up again. "And, uh, she came in… her and I talked for a bit."

His ears perked up slightly, Matt glancing back towards her. "She didn't harass you about me, did she?"

Gabby shook her head, her tongue running over her bottom lip. "No, she didn't. She mostly just wanted to get to know me… you know, you're girlfriend." She spoke lightly, partially to tease him but also to see how he reacted to her referring to herself in that way, Gabby wanting to see if she could get any better read on him about how he felt. But he gave her next to nothing, Matt simply shaking his head as he chuckled.

"And how'd that conversation go?" He continued, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek before responding.

"It was fine, I told her about my family, and about the firehouse. It was all pretty basic, surface-level stuff, but I think she was just wanting to get to know me."

"She didn't ask about me?"

"No, not really. She even said she wasn't going to, because she didn't want to put me in that position. We mostly just talked about me, but, she uh-"

"What?"

"She did say how she's glad you have someone like me in your life…" Matt's eyebrows furrowed, Gabby suddenly feeling unsure under his stare. "Just, uh, someone that cares about you, I guess. After everything with Hallie, she said she was glad you had that." Matt's gaze softened, Gabby relaxing as he gave her a small smile.

"Well, I'm glad I have that, too." He responded, Gabby matching his grin before returning her attention to her food. "But I am sorry she stopped by, I know you needed a day to just kind of relax, I didn't know she was coming."

"It's okay, she didn't stay very long. And, as you can see, I think my nap more than made up for it." She responded, Matt chuckling before taking another bite.

They enjoyed the rest of their dinner in peace, occasionally talking about random topics here and there, the two just enjoying each other's company. By the time they finished, both of them were completely full, Matt telling Gabby to stay on the couch while he cleaned up their meal, Dawson happy to oblige as she curled up under the blanket once more, waiting for Matt to get back before making herself completely comfortable.

Casey reappeared within minutes, slowly making his way back over to the couch, collapsing down into it. He barely got seated before Gabby leaned into his side, Matt a little surprised when she immediately relaxed into him, but he wrapped his arm around her shoulders regardless, smiling when she nuzzled herself against his chest.

"You smell like wood." She murmured, Matt releasing a soft chuckle, reaching for the blanket and pulling part of it to rest over his lap.

"Yeah, I know, I need to shower." He responded, running his hand up and down her arm.

"Not right now, you don't. You're too comfy." She muttered, Casey grinning as he felt her arm slide over his waist.

They sat together on the couch in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, Matt steadily moving his hand up and down over her side in a comforting motion, feeling her chest rising and falling against his. After his long day at work, this was the perfect way to decompress and wind down, and he'd be lying if he said he hadn't been looking forward to getting home all day, because he knew who was waiting for him.

But he had also been thinking about getting home for a different reason, Casey knowing there was a conversation that needed to be had between the two of them. There was something she needed to know, he just wasn't sure how to approach the sensitive topic.

"Hey Gabby?" He spoke softly, hating to disturb their peaceful quiet, but he knew he had to. It was something that had been weighing on him since yesterday, but he hadn't gotten the chance to talk with her about it yet.

"Hmm?"

"There's something we need to talk about, or something I need to tell you I guess." He prefaced, feeling her tense in his grip before she pulled back slightly, lifting her head so she could see his face.

"What is it?"

"I, uh… I had a talk with Walker yesterday." He started, watching as Gabby bit down on her bottom lip, her body physically recoiling when he mentioned the name, Matt feeling his heart drop into his stomach when he saw her reaction to Bryan. He knew he really had no idea the extent of what happened in their relationship, but he had some pretty strong suspicions of some of the things she'd gone through, and the thought made him sick. "I know I probably should've left it alone, but after hearing what happened at Molly's, I just couldn't. So I told him to leave you, and Shay alone… I know it's not my place, and I know you can take care of yourself, but I wanted to help, if I even can." Gabby's face softened as he spoke, Matt unsure of what was going on in her head. "Whatever his problem is, you don't need to be dealing with his bullshit, with him harassing you… and hurting you." Matt saw a look he couldn't quite read flash in her eyes. "So I told him to leave you alone, but, I don't know, I feel like I might've only made things worse."

Gabby shook her head, leaning forward a placing a soft kiss to his lips. The action took him by surprise but he quickly found his footing, Matt kissing her back.

"It's okay." She breathed out when they separated. "I know you're just trying to help… I don't think he'll listen, but, still, I appreciate it." She murmured, Matt nodding as he pulled her back to him, Gabby falling against his chest.

"I told him I didn't want him talking to you on shift, unless it was work related." Matt continued, wanting her to know exactly what had been said, seeing as how it affected her. "And that even though I can't control what he does off shift, I can make up for it on shift."

"How'd he take that?" She questioned, rubbing her thumb over his side.

"Not well. But I'm hoping he listens…" Gabby's face fell, thankful she was hidden against his chest and he couldn't see it. "I'm not trying to be overbearing or anything, but he's the one who ended things, he has no reason to keep bothering you." Matt breathed out, Gabby tightening her hold over his waist, Matt bringing his other arm across the front of his body, wrapping around to her side. "I'm hoping since it's affecting his job, he'll leave you alone. Because I meant what I said, if he keeps messing with you, it's not gonna be fun for him at the firehouse." He breathed out.

Gabby merely nodded, keeping her head tucked into his chest, focusing on the warmth and security his embrace provided her. A part of her wanted to tell him about what happened today after shift, how Walker had confronted her outside the firehouse. But now she wasn't so sure she should. She didn't want him to feel guilty. Even though his intentions were in the right place, Walker had only come to her because of what he said. Or, at least it was the main contributing factor. And though she didn't blame him for it, she couldn't help but feel like he'd blame himself, and she didn't want that, not when she was okay.

This thing with Walker, Gabby was hoping it would all soon blow over like most of her and Bryan's fights and arguments had in the past. Dawson knew him well enough to know that once he got all his anger out and said what he felt like he needed to say, Bryan usually let things go. Granted there were times he'd quickly find other things to be upset about, he typically didn't hold onto things for too long. Gabby could only hope this was one of those times.

Although something in her gut told her it wasn't.

"I'm sorry." Matt's voice broke her through her trance, Gabby raising her head, the curious look across her features silently urging him to continue as Matt lifted his hand up, lightly tracing his fingers over the side of her face. "I shouldn't have brought him up, I didn't really want to, but I wanted you to know what happened." Her face softened, Gabby realizing he took her silence to mean he'd done something wrong. "I didn't want to keep it from you."

"It's okay, Matt." She spoke, Casey nodding slowly as he stroked his thumb over her cheek. "I just got lost in my own head for a second, but I'm not upset with you or anything." She assured him, sliding her hand up from his waist to his chest, rubbing gently over his shirt. "You're the last person who's done anything wrong here, trust me."

"You haven't either." He was quick to add, Gabby pursing her lips together as she looked down, focusing on her own movements over his chest. "I mean it," He continued, carefully lifting her chin, getting her to meet his eyes, "you haven't done anything to deserve him doing this to you."

Gabby was surprised by the firm tone to his voice, understanding that he completely believed what he was saying.

"You didn't deserve him cheating on you, you don't deserve him messing with you now. I don't know what happened between you two, but it doesn't matter. Nothing excuses what he's doing. You're not to blame here, Gabby." She slowly nodded, sliding her hand up behind his neck, pulling herself towards him, wrapping her arms around him as she hugged herself to his body.

Matt reciprocated the action, unsure of why his simple words elicited this type of reaction, but he held onto her regardless, helping her movements as she lifted herself into his lap, her body straddling his as they held one another. Her head was tucked into his neck, her body pressed into his as he slowly ran his hand up and down her back, hoping the action gave her at least a little bit of comfort.

To his surprise, he felt her start to kiss his neck, her soft kisses soon turning deeper as she gently bit down on his skin, Matt groaning as he felt her hands slide down from his neck, moving towards his waist.

"Gabby…" Her name left his lips softly, Gabby smiling against his skin before continuing on, no doubt leaving a fresh mark on his neck.

She carefully trailed her way to his lips, each movement precise until her lips connected with his, Gabby kissing him forcefully as her hands began to work on his belt buckle. His hands slid to her hips, his body reacting quicker than his head as he felt her hands brush against him through his jeans, a low moan escaping the back of his throat.

As she got his belt undone, Matt felt her begin to unzip his pants, her hands working quickly as she deepened the kiss, Casey having to force himself to pull away.

"Wait… wait." He panted, stopping her movements, a clear look of confusion covering her face. "Are you sure?" He asked, holding onto her hands in between them as she sat in his lap, Gabby still confused by his uncertainty. Sensing her uneasiness, he was quick to clarify. "I know it's been a hard few days for you, I don't… I don't want to take advantage of that."

Gabby's face softened, her chest filling with an unexplainable warmth as a gentle smile fell onto her lips, Matt matching her expression.

"I want to." She assured him, seeing his eyes trace over her face. "I promise."

Having gotten the reassurance he was looking for, Matt leaned forward, capturing her lips in his as he let go of her hands, letting her go back to work. She tugged at the waistband of his jeans, silently urging him to help her, Matt gripping her hips as he slowly lifted his. He pushed himself up enough for Gabby to pull them down to his thighs, their lips disconnecting long enough for her to complete the somewhat challenging task.

Once that was taken care of, he lowered himself back down on the couch, Gabby finding his lips again as he grabbed ahold of his shirt covering her body, letting it bunch up around her waist. His loose belt buckle dug into her thigh as she straddled his waist, Matt leaning forward when she began pulling at his shirt, giving her room to discard it from his body, tossing the object to the floor.

Not liking the amount of clothes she still had on, Matt slid his hands up under her shirt, feeling her body move as she took deep breaths, his hands gripping her warm skin before he slid the material up over her body, leaving her top half completely bare as he threw the clothing to the ground.

His eyes darkened when he saw her heaving chest, Matt sliding his hands up and down her sides before moving to her chest, cupping a breast in each palm as she ground her hips down into his, her lips finding his again.

She whimpered softly into his mouth, feeling his rough hands against her sensitive skin, the two fighting for dominance as he eventually dropped one of his hands, moving further south. Her breath hitched as she felt him push her underwear to the side, his fingers rubbing against her before slowly sinking one into her. Gabby whined at the movement, her head lulling to the side when he added another finger, his slow pace driving her crazy.

"Matt…" She panted, Casey grinning softly as he slowly removed his fingers from her after a few moments, Gabby groaning at the loss of contact as she lifted her head, capturing his lips in a quick, searing kiss before pushing herself up off the couch.

He was surprised by the movement at first, but when he saw her begin to remove her underwear, he knew she wasn't going very far, Matt taking the opportunity to slide his boxers and jeans down his legs, kicking them off just as she mounted him again. Her skin felt warm against his, her thighs on either side of his as she sat down in his lap.

"Enough teasing." She murmured against his lips, pressing a light kiss to him before trailing her lips over his jaw, her hand sneaking in between them to grab ahold of him. A gasp left his lips as she gripped him tightly, Gabby stroking him firmly as her lips danced across his skin.

"You just said no teasing." He groaned, Gabby smirking against his skin before lifting her hips up, Matt helping her stay steady while she lined him up to her entrance, his eyes falling closed as she slowly sunk down onto him. Her body felt impossibly tight around him as he filled her completely, Gabby needing a second to adjust before she slowly began moving.

Her lips found his, Matt's hold on her hips helping her movements as she bounced up and down in his lap. Her hands gripped the back of the couch behind his head, giving her support as they began to move faster. Casey was doing what he could to assist her, matching her stride as he thrust up into her every time she came down, the action causing a surprised squeal to leave her lips.

Her release was building within her, Gabby feeling that familiar warmth spread through her body when Matt picked up his speed, her head falling down to his shoulder as he pumped into her. His hands began roaming over her body, Gabby whining when she felt him stop at her center, his hand rubbing over her expertly in time with his movements.

She felt him start to tumble over the edge, his quick, frantic thrusts spurring her on as well as they slowly rode out their high together, Gabby's body clenching around him. Matt gradually slowed down his movements, waiting until he was sure they were both done before coming to a complete stop, his hands moving over her body until they came to rest low on her back.

The pair sat together on the couch in the afterglow of their evening fun, the air around them thick as her body melted into his, both panting as they enjoyed this quiet moment for the two of them. Neither one of them made any attempt to move just yet, Gabby's head tucked into his neck as he lightly ran his hands up and down her back, both content to make this moment last just a bit longer.

Gabby stared out into the dark living room as her head rested on Matt's bare chest, the only source of light in the apartment coming from the entryway light that never got turned off, the two of them never making it back to his room for the night. When they finally detached from one another earlier, Matt had left to go take a quick shower while Gabby stayed put, her body euphorically achy as she cuddled into the couch, waiting for him to return. And when he did, wearing nothing but a thin pair of boxers, it didn't take long for them to get lost in one another for a second time. What started with Gabby on her back pinned underneath him, ended with her on her knees, her face pressed into the cushions as Matt kneeled behind her, their night finishing similarly to how it started, the pair never quite making it back to the bedroom.

Despite it not being the most comfortable place to sleep, Gabby was glad they hadn't made their way off the couch. She was comforted by the feeling of their bare bodies pressed against one another as she laid on top of him, their combined body heat and the blanket off the back of the couch keeping them warm.

Matt had fallen asleep quickly after they finished, Gabby finding him fast asleep when she came back from the bathroom with the blanket wrapped around her bare form, his long day having finally caught up with him. She'd decided not to wake him, Gabby climbing on top of him and letting herself fall into him instead, Matt subconsciously wrapping his arms around her while he slept, the man never stirring as she got comfortable.

And now she had no intention of moving from this spot, with her arms resting on either side of his body, his hands wrapped around her back, keeping her pressed against him while she felt his chest rising and falling underneath her cheek.

Lifting her head slightly, she rested her chin against his chest, using the quiet moment to take him in, letting herself watch him sleep. He looked so relaxed, so peaceful, and Gabby wanted to take a second to commit it to memory.

She wasn't sure why she liked seeing him like this, but she did, in these quiet moments that no one other than her got to experience. She hoped it wasn't weird, that he wouldn't find it odd if he ever found out, but she enjoyed seeing him sleep. It was a nice shift from his usually tough exterior, and she loved the chances she got to see him like this. And part of her couldn't help but wonder if he did the same thing.

Blowing out a soft sigh, Gabby readjusted herself in his arms, her head falling back down against his chest as she let herself get comfortable, her body screaming at her to get some rest.

As she slowly dozed off, she pressed a soft kiss against his collarbone, Gabby smiling when she felt him kiss the top of her head, her movement clearly haven woken him up.

"Do you wanna go to bed?" His groggy voice filled the silent room, Gabby shaking her head as much as she could against his chest, feeling him tighten his grip on her.

"No… I'm perfect right here." She murmured, unable to see the soft grin that fell to his face, Gabby letting herself slowly drift off, Matt quickly consuming her thoughts.

She knew she was falling for him, that she had fallen for him. It was clear by the way she felt when he was around; how she'd long to be near him, how just a grin from him could cause her heart rate to speed up, how with one touch he could calm her down instantly. She knew she had feelings for him, deep feelings that only continued to grow day by day.

She was falling in love with him.

And it scared the hell out of her.

Well, how are we feeling? I hope you all liked this one. Gabby's finally admitted to herself just how much Matt means to her, but will she tell him? Who knows. And then there's Matt in all this, we haven't really seen where he's at and what he's thinking. There's definitely a lot left to figure out there. But there was a lot of cute (and a little steamy) Dawsey in this one, which is always fun for me to write. We also got some one on one time with Nancy and Gabby, she's definitely still in the picture. Also, Gabby seems to be a little on edge here lately. Not sure how many of you picked up on that, but she's definitely a little jumpy. I'm sure you all have some guesses as to why… Speaking of, next chapter we're back at the firehouse, which means more Walker… Nothing good can come of that, can it?

Anyway, thank you all so much for reading, I can't wait to hear your thoughts! And thank you for all the love on the last chapter, it meant so much to me. I'll see you next time.